Five questions with Ian Iqbal Rashid – a critically acclaimed poet, script-writer, and filmmaker of such films “Touch of Pink” and “How She Move”

 

Photo Credit:  Peter Ride

 

What was it like growing up?

My family migrated from East Africa, where I was born, to Toronto in the early 7O’s. It was a difficult time for visible minorities. Canada was not yet multi racial in any way and there was a lot of racism. I grew up in a violent, inner-city neighbourhood, which was challenging.

How did you come out?

I came out in degrees at first. To my brother and close friends initially. But then my parents found out and it all got fast tracked. They were horrified and tried to convince me to ‘change.’  But now, after many years of working at it (on both sides), they are supportive and accepting.

What has been your inspiration in life?

Other artists have inspired me. The work of pioneering South Asian queer artists like Pratibha Parmar and  Sunil Gupta. Toronto artist-activists like Richard Fung, John Greyson and Dionne Brand used their work about queer politics (amongst other issues) to form public queer identities and then forge communities –I was lucky enough to be part of those communities. Feeling part of a community, even a movement, was vital for me in coming out and accepting my sexuality, and making peace with being South Asian and gay.

What has been some of your greatest achievements?

Relationships: my supportive and accepting relationship with my parents; and my 22 year old relationship with my partner Peter Ride.

What is your message to the world?

To paraphrase Emma Goldman, “If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be part of this revolution.” Finding—even creating—pleasures and joy, even in struggle, has saved me again and again.

 Ian Iqbal Rashid is an award winning Canadian poet, script-writer and filmmaker based in London, England. He founded Desh Pardesh in Toronto in the early 90’s.  For more information on Ian check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Iqbal_Rashid

Five questions with Jaspreet Singh Chahal – the next generation of an out and proud queer brown activist

What was it like growing up?

I was born and raised in Manila, Philippines to a Sikh family. Growing up, I  often asked myself  What is love? What is sex? What is abuse? I did not fit in into societal norm that media tries to convey. I always knew I was gay, but I had to suppress it because it is not accepted in the hetero-mainstream society. Overcoming bullying as a child, sexually abused by a family member, introduced to sex in my childhood years, and confusion on the concept of religion, at home (Sikhism) and at school (Catholic) was also part of my growing up.  I had to define religion myself along the way in that everybody is treated with respect and equality,

How did you come out? What does that mean to you?

I came out to my parents who were visiting me in Canada at that time and my parents tried to push the marriage thing on me in order to get permanent residence as fast and efficient as possible. After I came out, statements from my parent’s were  like “This is abnormal, you need a psychiatrist,” ” why are you choosing this path?”, “That’s a sin in the eyes of Guru Nanak,” “Medicine will cure you,”  Until today, I’m 24. They are still silent on this topic and don’t want to discuss it. That’s fine with me, I have to live my life without regrets.  Coming out to me means freedom from the lies of media, coming out means to be proud as a person and create my own path by loving myself and fully understand the depth of life and my existence in this world.

What has been your inspiration in life?

My inspiration in life is the pain, struggle, and growth that I endured in my life. I am a spiritual person and always connected to God and the universe whether its sadness or happiness. I am inspired by myself and the experiences of other queer South Asians. The fight for existence, the fight for immigrant status in Canada, fight for being queer South Asian, and fight for independence is very inspiring for me and for others. Our life is not limited to one thought or one view what media tells us to believe. We just expect that we have to accept and love ourselves in order to attain full happiness and be able to love and appreciate others.

What has been some of your greatest achievements?

The greatest achievement is to love myself and to love God, universe, and higher power. To achieve permanent resident status in Canada despite being taken advantage of in the workplace. The perseverance and patience that I have achieved through conflicts and struggles in life. The love and support that I achieved from friends and acquaintances.

What is your message to the world? 

I would like to share to the world that always do what you love most and appreciate your life as a wonderful journey. There will be obstacles, but we just have to deal with it along the way and challenge ourselves so that we can strive and succeed in this world.

Everyone should identify what they are good at, not just blindly following others. Be unique and awesome and try to make a difference in the world.  Hard work will pay off in the end.

You’ve got one life and mind as well … make the most of it and bring Change and Empowerment to the world.

Jaspreet Singh Chahal is a gay activist and Sikh immigrant based in Surrey, B.C. He is proud to officially become a permanent resident after seven and a half years of living in Canada.  Jaspreet is currently employed as a sales representative.

Five questions with social justice activist, facilitator, and educator Romi Chandra Herbert

What was it like growing up?

I was born and raised on the beautiful island of Fiji, tradition territory of the Polynesian and Melanesian people.  My ancestors were brought from India as exploited indentured labourers to work on sugar plantations established by the British colonial government. When Fiji gained independence in 1970, a controversial and racially divisive constitution was created followed by violent military coups that continues today in the subjugation of Fijians born from Indian ancestry. I was born in 1979 in a racially tense environment. While I questioned my sexuality at an early age, my racial identity took precedence. My extended family moved to Canada in the early 80’s and my family fled Fiji in the late 80’s to Vancouver which is the traditional territory of the Coast Salish People.  This became our new home. Here, my knowledge of colonization and its effect grew and I found amazing friends who supported my passion for justice and together we found love and light.

How did you come out?

I knew I was different when I was 10, I came out to myself when I was 13, but didn’t come out to my family and friends until I was 15; those 2 years in-between were among the loneliest. I came out to my family because everyone in school already knew and I wanted my family to hear it from me directly. There was a lot of confusion and tears, not to mention the fear of what extended family members would say or think. My family came to Canada for a better life and I felt that pressure and obligation. I started a gay/straight alliance in my high school because I was sick of hearing all the hatred while some teachers and adults turned a blind eye. The GSA was the first such group in any high school in BC and partly because of the colour of my skin, it became a juicy news story for the media. My extended family learned of my sexuality through the news on TV. Half of my extended family disapproved, falsely blaming my family/mother for raising me this way and the other half understood who I was. Through many difficult conversations over the years, my family has now become incredibly close and I couldn’t ask for a more supportive family.

What has been your inspiration in life?

I am inspired by people and their courageous stories of struggle in challenging systemic forms of oppression personally and politically; speaking up and speaking truth to power without taking power from anyone. The love and understanding provided by my mother is a constant inspiration in my life. Being surrounded by friends who do so much good in our world keeps me on my toes! My husband of 14 years. Sometimes when we are with family, my husband, who is white, says something or does something that shakes our cultural norm and that helps me question all the ‘norms’ we’ve built into society; what was once not talked about, is now open for discussion.

What has been some of your greatest achievements?

To question tradition without losing history, to adapt without losing integrity, to live my values without being swayed by populist ideals, being surrounded by loving friends and family, to be constantly learning on ways of doing all of this better.

What is your message to the world?

If we spoke up when we witnessed injustice, if we challenged ourselves to practice what we preached, if we treated each other equitably and with dignity, if we were to unleash our creativity to its maximum, just imagine the world we would have created for each other.

Romi Chandra Herbert is a social justice activist, facilitator and educator helping to build inclusive communities around the world.

Five questions with event producer Mandy Randhawa – creating fab events and inclusive spaces that foster a sense of community, acceptance, pride, and fun

Photo Credit:  Brittany Kwasney – Bright Photography

 

 What was it like growing up?

 I grew up in an affluent Sikh household with parents who valued social status and “what would people say” more than anything else. My actions or inactions would either add or delete from the family standing in society. I always questioned the status quo, especially the treatment of girls and women, which soon made my parents view me as the troublemaker and as someone that needed more controlling. I felt I never belonged in India and often felt infuriated by the treatment of women, yet helpless to be able to make a change. I often felt alone in questioning the world around me as everyone else seemed blind to what I was seeing and feeling.  Everything in my being made sense when I immigrated to Canada at 13. All of a sudden I found myself in a world where it was ok to be an individual and express myself.

How did you come out?    

I was 18 when I came out to myself. I never questioned it. It was like, huh…..this feels absolutely right. So right that there is nothing to question about it. I lost a couple of friends, but I never seemed to struggle with it. I had some deeper sense within me that knew that nothing could be done to change this and everything was ok as it was. My struggle came with my parents for 10 years who refused to believe I was gay. They thought it was a phase and that it would change. When it didn’t, they resorted to persistent unkind words at which point I made the hard decision to cut ties with them. Their shame of me and my life was not my burden and I choose not to be defined by their shame.  While I was waiting to be unconditionally loved and accepted by my parents, my life was passing by. I looked around and realised that I already had love and unconditional acceptance in my life. It came from my partner, friends and extended community so I decided to cherish and enjoy what I had and leave behind what I couldn’t change. Life has a way of surprising you. My brother recently reached out and it’s been great to slowly build a mutually respectful and accepting relationship with him. My door is open to my parents as well. Whenever they are ready to be proud of me and come to terms with my life. I am not waiting for them and fully at peace with things as they are.

What has been your inspiration in life?

Many things inspire me. The courage to experience this life on your own terms, audacity to think big and think differently and even the tree outside my window that sheds its leaves when it is time to let go and has no problem with change. The desire within each of our beings to always search for its wholeness and peace amazes me. The impermanence of life inspires me to fully be in each moment good, bad or indifferent.

What has been some of your greatest achievements?

Moving through this world as my truest self, proud and having created a life with my partner, friends and community that nourishes me and our community. I absolutely love my work. I get to create events and inclusive spaces that foster a sense of community, acceptance, pride and fun for all members of our community. It amazes me that all I had to go by was a niggling little feeling in my gut even as a child that pushed me to question the status quo and it wouldn’t let go until it created exactly what it was seeking.

What is your message to the world?

We have one precious life to live, be proud of who you are. You are perfect just as you are. Reach out for help and surround yourself with people that cherish and nourish you AND never forget to have fun!

Mandy Randhawa is the Event Producer at Flygirl Productions, one of North America’s leading lesbian event organizers. For Mandy, who grew up in an environment steeped in intolerance, creating exquisite opportunities for the queer community to experience wholeness and celebration is a way of sharing with others the influences that helped her through the hardest times – joy, spontaneity, and shaking up the dance floor.  For more information check out: www.flygirlproductions.com

Five questions with nisha ahuja – an uplifting and enlightened theatre artist, actor, movement-based theatre creator, singer, and writer

Photo Credit: Anirudh Thorat

What was it like growing up?

I was born and raised an Algonquin Territory on Turtle Island, also known as Ottawa, Canada. I had a middle class model minority immigrant upbringing in a household that was culturally Hindu in the 80’s & 90’s. I was surrounded by many people’s from around the world, but we were all considered minorities to a predominant White Canadian culture. I always had a feeling of being an outsider as I didn’t feel at ease within the “normal” of being a girl, “normal” of White culture, “normal” of “middle class South Asian” culture, “normal” in ways of loving I saw around me.

 

How did you come out?

Coming out happens everyday. But looking back I came out to myself around  the age of 10 or 11, but because of internalized homophobia and not having other Queer South Asians around I had a good decade of confusion, shame, and guilt. I also felt a lot of guilt about sexualizing other women in a way that I had been sexualized in traumatic ways as if I was replicating “the male gaze”. As I started to recognize this wasn’t the case, I came to love this core of my being totally connected to my spirituality  and emerged into my being as a Queer Polyamourous Fluid Femme (cuz my gender isn’t fixed either!)!!

I came out to my parents in my late twenties. There were some years of seeming acceptance, but they continually waver in their struggle to accept my being.

My extended family knows- many say they just want me to be happy and that feels so good. Others ignore it when it’s brought up. And there are others who don’t know or at least pretend that they don’t.

Some of the South Asian Community I grew up with knows and some don’t. There’s a lot of gossip, but I pulled away in my late teens as I didn’t vibe with that and I felt I wouldn’t be accepted. Based on some reactions from folks I have come out to, I think many would accept now. I hope.

 

What has been your inspiration in life?

I’m really inspired by the amazing Queer and Trans People of Colour I have met across Turtle Island (Canada & USA), and India who courageously make art, community, chosen family, and who live beyond the constraints and constructs of society. Coming out is not for everyone though, as some folks might face real danger in doing so, however by building with each other we can make spaces to hold each other in our wholeness.

What has been some of your greatest achievements?

Achievement and goals are funny things. Ultimately, the times I feel at greatest achievement is when I’m at ease and joy through acceptance of where I’m at in my journey. I feel the process of learning more about Yogic & Vedic practice and medicines, as well as making and sharing theatre and music have offered my being much healing, allowing me to enter into a state of wholeness. Being able to share the same with others’ at this point in my journey is so satisfying.

What is your message to the world?

My life’s work is dedicated to deconstructing colonial boundaries between art, traditional medicines, spirituality, and politics. To create and offer spaces that allow our communities to flourish beyond the trauma our systems have and continue to create.

Being queer asks me to move through the world with courage and the strength of vulnerability that allows journeying beyond the constraints of normalized ways of existing in our world that often fragment and disconnect ourselves from our own beings and each other.

Living this truth is honouring and reclaiming ways of being that were diminished through colonization.

It is rooting in deep spirituality and ancestral wisdom while cultivating a unique balance of “masculine” and “feminine” cosmic energies. It is having fluidity and flow in my gender and redefining how love is shared and expressed.

We have existed for Millennium.

For me being Queer is being in Purna/ Wholeness.

nisha ahuja is a theatre artist, actor, movement-based theatre creator, singer and writer who has created and performed across Canada, The Netherlands, and India.  she also shared Yogic medicine and Attmic energy healing. Learn more about nisha at www.nishaahuja.com

Five questions with Jotika – a multidisciplinary artist, activist, and fierce brown femme and one half of the spoken word, singing, and glittery duo Desi Femme Power

Photo Credit:  Zain Shivji

 What was it like growing up?

I grew up on Coast Salish Land that belongs to the Musqueam, Sḵwx̱wúmesh- Squaimish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples aka Vancouver. I grew up poor and lived  in B.C housing with predominantly my mother and my sister. I grew up in a Hindu and Catholic home that perpetuated a lot patriarchal, sexist and heteronormaitve ideals. I didn’t recognize or come into my queerness until my later teen years. I carried a lot of internalized homophobia.

How did you come out?  What does that mean to you?

I came out to myself when I was about 18/19; I really started to question my sexuality. I came out to my mother when I was 22/23 in a conversation in our kitchen where she asked me if I was a lesbian, at the moment I said yes, I figured it wasn’t the time to get into what Queer meant.

A lot of my extended family does not live in the same city/country so I have been slowly been able to come out to people that I feel safe with. There are many people in my family that don’t know I am queer.

What has been your inspiration in life?

My mother has become a source of my inspiration. She has worked so hard her whole life and continues to work hard. She has endured a lot as an immigrant, brown women and she has such an empathetic heart.

QTIPOC (Queer, Trans*, Indigenous, People of Colour) are a constant source of inspiration for me and specifically my fellow poor QTIPOC folks. The ways we fight to be seen and heard, the ways we shine and share our truths, and the ways in which we create from, work though, and heal from trauma together.

Meeting other Queer and gender non-conforming South Asian folks who are doing such powerful important work this past July at Desi Q was a huge source of inspiration for me.

What has been some of your greatest achievements?

This past few years I feel very proud that I have made (and sold!) art that has been in my heart for a long time. I have started making greeting cards (Queer, solstice, Diwali etc.) and radical posters that celebrate: Queer and Trans* folks of colour, brown women and other groups that don’t get celebrated and recognized enough.

This past year I started a performance group with a friend of mine Zain called:  Desi Femme Power. We are a spoken word, singing, glittery duo that touch on many topics including: inter-generational trauma & survival, racism, transphobia, homophobia, healing, love, strength and poverty.

What is your message to the world?

Surround yourself with people that love you and that can see your worth. I have learned that it has been the people I’ve choose to have in my life that have helped me see that I can really achieve anything I want. Finding and connecting with communities I feel good in have helped me and continue to help me be the powerful femme that I am. Growing up in poverty affects so much of us; the effects of systemic poverty are real and I feel you.  I am constantly fighting and raising my voice to have my narratives be heard. You are powerful! You are strong! You are beautiful.  Don’t believe the lies that main stream societies feeds us. Write your own stories, create your own art, carve your own paths in the ways that make sense and feel good to you.

 

Jotika is a multidisciplinary artist and activist who is a fierce, brown femme. She creates art to heal, learn, inspire, listen, observe, fight and dream. Her art is a piece of her activism; she makes visual art as well as writes and sings. She is working on her Bachelor of Social Work. She is a queer, poor, South Asian women whose roots are in Northern India and Fiji. She was born and raised as a settler on land that was stolen from the xʷməθkʷəy̓ə – Musqueam, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh – Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples.

You can check out Jotika’s art at:  https://www.facebook.com/JotikArt and http://jotikart.tumblr.com/

Five questions with the founding editor of Gaylaxy magazine, Sukhdeep Singh, a man of courage and conviction

Photo Credit:  Tara Chattopadhyay

What was it like growing up?

I grew up in Kolkata, in a Sikh family. My parents have always taught me that all humans are equal, and that serving humanity is serving God! My parents are a bit religious, but I am not; and they have never forced religion upon me as such. I have grown up in a liberal atmosphere; but like most Indian households, sexuality is something that does not get discussed. I do not remember feeling “guilty” for harbouring same-sex desire while growing up. Sometimes I would pray to God to give me strength to deal with the situation, or sought a way to tell my parents. But as I got to understand my sexuality more, such fears also vanished.

How did you come out?

Coming out … well, I have been coming out since 2009, and can say it has happened twice- once to friends, and once to my mother. My first coming out happened when I was in college. I had written a coming out post on my blog, which was followed by only a few close friends. But after a few months, someone got hold of the link and I was publically outed. Thankfully, all my friends were very supportive and stood by me. Although I did receive a few reactions like ‘How can you be gay? When did you turn gay?’ It was largely a positive reaction from others and I was soon leading an open life in my college.

To my mother I came out last year, and it was difficult to explain to her. I knew she wouldn’t understand what gay means, so I told her I wouldn’t be marrying. When she asked why, I tried explaining her that I was attracted to boys instead of girls. At first she acted as if she didn’t hear anything, as if the conversation never happened. Later when I again sat down with her and told her about it, she questioned me how was this possible, how will I have kids, who will I lead my life with? She told I could marry a girl of my own choice in 2-3 years and then started crying. Our relationship hasn’t been affected and we haven’t had a direct conversation on this topic after that. But she doesn’t approve of me going to gay pride marches or other gay events.

What has been your inspiration in life?

My inspiration is my parents, who did such a wonderful job of bringing us up despite the hardships they had to face. They always allowed me to grow and work on my interests. The teachers of my school have also inspired me a lot.

What has been some of your greatest achievements?

I have had a fairly difficult childhood since our family’s economic condition wasn’t good. But I was a studious student who stood first in my class. With the help of my school Principal, I was successful in getting through to one of India’s best engineering colleges. It was while studying in college that I launched Gaylaxy magazine in 2010, India’s largest English language LGBT magazine. Over the years, I have been able to sustain it along with my job (I work as a Software Engineer). We launched India’s first and only Hindi LGBT magazine too on 1^st January, 2014; and will soon be launching a mobile app in a few days.

What is your message to the world?

Treat everyone equally, with love and dignity. Our only concern should be welfare of humans. Do not harbor hatred within yourself for anyone. Question every single thing in the world, and if the answers do not satisfy you, work towards change. The ability to “unlearn” is also important. We must unlearn the prejudices, sexism that we might have learnt while growing up. Lastly, for queer youth, I will say, do not be too bogged down with sexuality. Focus on your study and career and when you grow up, you will find the courage and way to lead your life.

Sukhdeep Singh is fhe Founding Editor of Gaylaxy magazine which is India’s largest English language LGBT magazine.  For more information on Sukhdeep and Gaylaxy check out http://www.gaylaxymag.com/

Five questions with award winning social worker and author Alex Sangha

Photo Credit:  Sandra Minarik

What was it like growing up?

I was born in Kent, England into a Sikh Punjabi Family.  My parents separated shortly after their arrival in Canada.  I was raised by my mother.  My mother was very spiritual, non-judgemental, and accepting about my differences and diversity including my sexuality.  My father still to this day has a hard time accepting my gayness, especially me being out and proud about it.

How did you come out?

I was not happy being gay in my teens.  I secretly went to see a child psychiatrist hoping to become straight.  Not surprisingly, this did not work.  The psychiatrist helped me accept myself and come out.  When I graduated from high school their was no internet and I had no cell phones and I didn’t know anyone who was gay.  I felt alienated, isolated, lonely, and depressed often.  I began to meet queer people at college and university and started to feel good about myself, especially when I discovered that people like Alexander the Great and Michelangelo were gay and/or bisexual.

What has been your inspiration in life?

My inspiration is the Creator and my mother.  I am very spiritual and feel God would not have created gay people if he wanted them to suffer.  I feel it is the duty of all people to help the marginalized, oppressed, and vulnerable and this includes gays and lesbians.

What has been some of your greatest achievements?

I am proud of launching the DOSTI project which is an anti-bullying, racism, and homophobia workshop as well as founding Sher Vancouver and creating a community of people where queer South Asians and their allies can connect, meet, find support, and not feel alone.  I am also proud of my third book Catalyst and the Dignity House project that I helped initiate.  Dignity House is a proposal to develop affordable housing for gay and lesbian seniors in Vancouver.  I am also excited about the Sher Vancouver Out and Proud Project because I feel it is an opportunity to create public awareness and educate the mainstream public about the issues queer South Asians face and the great things they accomplish everyday, everywhere around the world.

What is your message to the world?

My message to the world is learn to love yourself and the rest will take care of itself.  Be proud, be free, and the direction your life will take will be limitless.

Alex Sangha is an award winning social worker, author, and human rights activist based in Surrey, B.C.  For more information on Alex check out his website http://alexsangha.com. Check out  Alex Sangha on Culture Vulture to discuss his social discussion book Catalyst (4 minutes). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKBvXWG9PVU

Five questions with the multi-talented artist Vivek Shraya

Photo credit:  Karen Campos

What was it like growing up?

Growing up in white Edmonton as a brown gender queer kid was isolating.  I was constantly reinforced that there was something abnormal about me.

How did you come out?

My experience of queerness hasn’t allowed for a definitive coming out moment. I have had to perpetually come out – to my friends, family, and co-workers. My shifting understanding of my own identities has involved perpetually coming out to myself – as bisexual, gay, queer, and a queer person of colour.

What has been your inspiration in life?

I am inspired by people who are passionate, who are devoted to working on being their best selves, who aren’t afraid of taking risks, who are able to seek out and experience joy. I am inspired by my mother, Beyoncé and queer & trans youth of colour.

What has been some of your greatest achievements?

My greatest achievement has been my perseverance as a human and as an artist. Everyday I have lived past 16 years old, and have dreamed of another day, feels like an accomplishment. Every art project I have made feels like a success, despite my own insecurities and an innate understanding of my limitations, despite not being formally trained in the arts, despite being told that I can’t be successful as a brown musician in Canada, despite being continually rejected by funding bodies.

I have dedicated most of my adult life trying to create and provide the kinds of resources and supports I didn’t have growing up, so I feel especially moved when a queer youth connects to my work.

What is your message to the world?

There is nothing wrong with who you are and who you are should be celebrated.

Vivek Shraya is a Toronto-based artist working in the media of music, performance, literature and film. For more information on Vivek check out his website at:  http://vivekshraya.com.  

Five questions with award winning author and psychotherapist Farzana Doctor

Photo Credit:  Vivek Shraya

What was it like growing up?

I grew up in Whitby, a small white town in Ontario. At the time, few people of colour lived there, and queerness was invisible. It took many years to come into my queer South Asian identity.

How did you come out?

I came out to myself after meeting two South Asian lesbians at a lesbian music festival in 1993 (at the time, I’d gone there as a straight ally because I’d heard the music was good!). I couldn’t make the connection between queerness and South Asian-ness until I’d met people who identified this way. Soon after I came out to my family, and I’ve been out to the entire family for almost 20 years. I’ve received a variety of reactions—awkwardness, concern, ignorance, support, celebration.

What has been your inspiration in life?

Writing is a huge part of my life. I’m inspired to write about human experiences of marginalization and resilience. How do we become better people? How do we get over terrible mistakes and traumas? How do we re-imagine and change the world around us?

What has been some of your greatest achievements?

I’m very proud of my novels, and that I won a Lambda Award for Six Metres of Pavement in 2012. It took many years to get my first novel, Stealing Nasreen to publication in 2007, and I’m grateful to the writers and readers who support my work. I believe that a creative practice like writing has the ability to change the status quo, to deeply affect our perceptions of the world.

What is your message to the world?

I think the process of coming out is a unique one for each of us, guided by our own experiences and privileges in this world. There can be a lot of pressure to come out, or to come out in a certain way. Sometimes this pressure comes from the dominant straight world and sometimes the queer community likes to “police” us. It’s really important that each of us expresses our sexuality, gender identity and brownness in a way that is authentic to ourselves first.

Farzana Doctor is an award winning author and psychotherapist based in Toronto.  For more information on Farzana check out her website at http://farzanadoctor.com